Venezuela government and opposition to resume dialogue effort
CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s government and opposition will resume efforts to hold dialogue, the third attempt in a year by the administration of President Nicolas Maduro and his adversaries to break up a bitter political stalemate.
France’s Macron broaches Lebanon in surprise Saudi visit
DUBAI/RIYADH (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron held hastily scheduled talks in Riyadh on Thursday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman amid rising tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, notably over Lebanon and Yemen.
Spanish Supreme Court frees Catalan parliament speaker on bail
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish judge on Thursday freed on bail the Catalan parliament’s speaker and four lawmakers while authorities continue to investigate their roles in Catalonia’s banned independence drive.
Brexit never? Britain can still change its mind, says Article 50 author
LONDON (Reuters) – Prime Minister Theresa May should stop misleading voters and admit that Brexit can be avoided if Britain decides to unilaterally scrap divorce talks, the man who drafted Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty will say on Friday.
Exclusive: Lebanon believes Saudi holds Hariri, demands his return
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Lebanon believes Saad al-Hariri is being held in Saudi Arabia, from where he resigned as Lebanese prime minister, two top government officials in Beirut said, amid a deepening crisis pushing Lebanon onto the frontlines of a power str…
Catalan parliament speaker freed on bail pending independence investigation
MADRID (Reuters) – A Spanish judge on Thursday freed on bail the Catalan parliament’s speaker and four lawmakers while authorities continue to investigate their leading roles in Catalonia’s banned independence drive.
Argentina says Russia wants more Argentine food products
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) – A Russian official expressed interest in Argentina providing more food products to Russia, Argentina’s foreign ministry said in a statement hours after the United States imposed steep anti-subsidy duties on Argentine biodiesel,…
East Congo militiamen go on trial for raping children
GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) – Eighteen people, including a provincial lawmaker, went on trial in eastern Congo on Thursday for the rapes of dozens of children, victims’ rights activists said.
Pence voices U.S. concern to Turkish prime minister about arrests
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Vice President Mike Pence expressed “deep concern” to Turkey’s prime minister on Thursday about the arrests of American citizens and local staff of U.S. missions in Turkey, the White House said.
East Libyan forces make new push to end Islamist resistance in Benghazi
BENGHAZI, Libya (Reuters) – Eastern Libyan forces on Thursday expelled Islamist fighters from one of their last strongholds in the country’s second-largest city of Benghazi, military officials said.
